FAQs – Headaches
Headaches are one of the most common complaints we see at our Brisbane CBD clinic – particularly in office workers who spend long hours at a desk. Many of these headaches have a musculoskeletal origin that chiropractic care can address directly.
Q: Can a chiropractor treat headaches?
Yes – especially tension headaches and cervicogenic ones (headaches that start in the neck). We adjust the upper cervical vertebrae, release the neck and shoulder muscles, and use dry needling or trigger point release on trigger points that refer pain up into the head. A lot of patients don’t realise their headaches are coming from their neck until we treat it and they stop.
Q: What is a cervicogenic headache?
A cervicogenic headache starts in your neck and radiates forward – typically a dull, one-sided ache beginning at the base of the skull and working its way toward the eye or forehead. Usually comes with upper neck stiffness, and gets worse after hours at a screen or desk.
Q: What is the difference between a tension headache and a migraine?
Tension headaches feel like a band squeezing around your head – both sides, pressure, no nausea. Migraines are usually one-sided, pulsing, and often come with nausea, light sensitivity, or visual disturbances. They’re different conditions, but chiropractic can help both. The treatment approach shifts depending on which one you’re dealing with.
Q: Can caffeine cause headaches?
Two ways. Caffeine constricts blood vessels – skip your morning coffee and those vessels dilate and throb. That’s a classic withdrawal headache, and it can happen even if you’re just later than usual. High doses can also trigger them directly. If you’re drinking coffee to manage headaches rather than prevent them, it’s worth looking at what else is going on.
Q: Why do I always get headaches at the end of the work day?
Hours of forward-head posture builds up tension in the upper neck and shoulders. Add in eye strain, jaw clenching (a lot of people do this without realising), and not drinking enough water, and you’ve got the end-of-day headache recipe. We see this constantly in CBD workers. The good news is it tends to respond quickly once we address the cervical tension driving it.
Q: Will a chiropractic adjustment help my headache straight away?
Often yes. Cervicogenic and tension headaches tend to respond quickly to cervical adjustment and muscle release – a lot of patients feel noticeably better walking out. It’s not always that fast, but we’d expect clear progress within 3–6 sessions.
Q: I’ve had headaches for years. Can chiropractic still help?
Yes – actually, chronic headaches that have never been properly assessed from a musculoskeletal angle often have a cervical component nobody’s touched. We’ll work out whether that’s the case. If we don’t think chiropractic is the right answer, we’ll say so and point you in the right direction.
Q: Do I need to stop my headache medication before seeing a chiropractor?
No – keep taking anything your doctor has prescribed. Chiropractic works alongside medical management, not instead of it. Let us know what you’re taking at your first appointment.
Q: What else can I do to reduce headaches at work?
Screen breaks every 45–60 minutes make a real difference. Monitor at eye level, not angled down. Drink water – actual water, not just coffee. Check what your jaw is doing right now; if your teeth are touching, you’re clenching. Gentle neck stretches help, but they’re treating the symptom. The chiropractic work addresses the source.
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If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.
